Erin’s Law – House Bill 1539

Contact Information

Sexual Violence Prevention

Overview of Erin’s Law

SHB 1539 (Erin’s Law), passed by the WA legislature in 2018, addresses child sexual abuse prevention in Washington state schools. The bill named the Office of Superintendent of Public Instruction (OSPI) as the lead agency tasked with reviewing curricula and assisting the Department of Children, Youth, and Families (DCYF) with developing a coordinated program for the prevention of child sexual abuse in grades K-12. OSPI collected information and comments from school districts and other relevant stakeholders to develop recommendations to assist DCYF and schools as they establish prevention programs. A brief summary of OSPI’s implementation plan is available.

Stakeholders were involved in three types of activities during the 2018-19 implementation of HB 1539:

  • Regional meetings to collect advice and comments, held in Spokane, Yakima, Everett, and Olympia
  • A curriculum review of sexual abuse prevention materials
  • Development of recommendations for schools, DCYF and community groups providing sexual abuse prevention education and programming.

Background of Erin’s Law

Erin’s Law is named after child sexual assault survivor, author, speaker, and activist, Erin Merryn. Erin’s Law was first introduced in Erin’s home state of Illinois in 2009. Since that time, 34 additional states have passed a version of Erin’s Law. For more information on Erin’s Law throughout the United States, please visit the Erin’s Law webpage.

Erin's Law Recommendations Report

The recommendations report posted here is based on advice and comments collected from stakeholders at four regional meetings and the work of a 27-member workgroup that met over a five-month period. The recommendations are intended to support schools that wish to provide evidence-informed sexual abuse prevention instruction.

Erin's Law Report